Kowaunkamish History

Buttes Area Council First chartered its Order of the Arrow Lodge on June 1, 1948. The original name of the lodge was Tribe of La Porte, which was taken from the camp honor society it replaced.

The Lodge renewed its lapsed charter in 1950, and changed its name to Kowaunkamish, meaning "my service to you" in the language of the Narragansett Indians. The Lodge totem, the river devil (spirit), represents camping, hiking, wildlife, Scouting skills and service to others. The Lodge served a small Council territory consisting of Colusa, Sutter, Yuba, and southern Butte counties. The Lodge newspaper was called "Drum Beat."

Among the highlights of Kowaunkamish Lodge history are the 12-C Conferences it hosted in 1959 at Beale Air Force Base; in 1964 at the Colusa Fairgrounds; and in 1972 at Beale Air Force Base.

In 1983, Kowaunkamish Lodge went to a 3 chapter system. Until this time they were the only Lodge in the Section without chapters. In 1984, they changed their Lodge flap to meet national standards. Also in 1984, Kowaunkamish was one of 2 Lodges within Section W3B to obtain the Brotherhood Attainnment Award.